COUNCIL TAXPAYERS could end up footing the bill for cleaning up oil spills if controversial plans to transfer millions of tonnes of Russian crude between tankers off the Fife coast goes ahead, writes Steve Bargeton, political editor.

Melbourne Marine Services of Sunderland wants to pump about 7.8 million tonnes of oil a year between tankers anchored four miles off the coast of Methil.

Yesterday at Holyrood MSPs and campaigners made it clear the proposal was not worth the gamble.

In evidence to the Scottish Parliament environment committee, Stephen Walker, acting head of environmental health at Edinburgh City Council, said taxpayers on the shores of the Forth would have to pay for any spillage.

“Even the smallest of spills will cost the local authority substantial resources—materials which we do not stockpile.

“At the end of the day we have to fork out taxpayers’ money hoping that the compensation will come through from the international tankers federation.

“We have got to carry out any potential clean up at our cost.

“We are being faced here with a large risk and we are being expected to up our resource preparedness without any direct support for this.”

Mid Scotland and Fife Tory MSP Ted Brocklebank and Central Fife Labour MSP Christine May told Forth Ports, who stand to gain financially from the transfers, that the 20 to 40 jobs that might be created by the project were not worth the risk.

Mr Brocklebank said, “You already have connections with Scapa Flow and it appears there is no particular reason why this operation should not be carried out there. I find it very difficult to understand why for 20 to 40 jobs we are being asked to even consider the possibility of this when it can go to somewhere else where you already have a presence.”

Ms May told the company, “We have people who have seen considerable investment in cleaning up and they are not convinced this is as risk free as they would like to see. And from what you have said it is impossible to give that guarantee and for virtually no jobs and no financial benefit to the community.”

Campaigner Les Douglas whose wife petitioned the Parliament, told MSPs the transfer proposals was akin to a game of “Russian roulette” and said Fife residents were “justly outraged” by the plan.

“It feels as if we are in the hands of a private company who are prepared to play Russian roulette with the Firth of Forth and who don’t care about what happens to the environment and the beauty they destroy.”

Retired businessman Linden Jarvis, a Forth Ports shareholder who has also submitted a petition to the Parliament, said, “It doesn’t matter how great the care is, a grave danger remains and even a small spillage can cause huge damage to the environment.

Responding to concerns, Forth Ports assured MSPs they would not allow transfers to take place unless they were satisfied of their safety.

Charles Hammond, group chief executive of Forth Ports Plc, said, “In this particular project one thing we are clear about is we would not wish to go ahead with anything which was not inherently safe.

“We take our role as guardians of the estuary very seriously, that’s why no final decision has been made at this point in time on the project.”

Mr Hammond said the company has not taken the decision to proceed.

“If we were to take that decision it would be because we were happy we could comply with all the regulations and could make sure the operation is carried out in an inherently safe manner.”

But Dunfermline East MSP Helen Eadie said there was a perceived conflict of interest as the authority had a major role in deciding whether or not they should be permitted.

Mid Scotland and Fife Green MSP Mark Ruskell asked Forth Ports representatives to name members of a panel which is advising the firm on the issue.

He said, “When asked simple questions on how they have assessed the environmental threat, they ducked and dived. This is not how a body with responsibility for protecting the environment on behalf of the public should behave.”

Deputy environment minister Sarah Boyack stressed the decision on whether or not a licence was needed for the transfers was one for Forth Ports.

“It’s not for the Scottish Executive to go and tell Forth Ports you need a licence.”